Advisory Council Meeting

Junely 124, 2007

Minutes

Held at 1501 Blue Spruce Drive

Fort Collins, Colorado  80524

 

Members Present:	Nancy Arthur	Roger Bailey	Paul BellJim Barlow
	Steve Budner	Cassie CastleberryMarcy Greenslit	Elnora McCloughanHelen Davis
	Rene DeMattei Janet Montera	Matt JacksonBarbara Nuss	Elnora McCloughanKaren Reinhardt
	Barbara Nuss Mary Shultz	Mary Shultz Lloyd Spawn	Earl Stevens Earl Stevens
	Barbara Tuttle Stan Ulrich	Stan Ulrich Don Venneberg	Sharon Zamora Sharon Zamora
Members Absent:	Manfred DiehlRene DeMattei	Marcy Greenslit Ellen Pihlstrom	Janet Montera Barbara Tuttle
	Ellen Pihlstrom	Don Venneberg
Staff Present:	Tina BarkerRuth Coberly	Ruth Coberly Tina Hugo	Tina Hugo Margaret Long
	Margaret Long Katy Mason	Lynette McGowan Lynette McGowan	Laura Sutherlin Glen Rathgeber
	Laura Sutherlin
Guests Present:	Marjorie McTaggart	Karen Reinhardt

CALL TO ORDER

Earl StevensElnora McCloughan called the meeting to order at 1:34 35 p.m.

INTRODUCTIONS

The Advisory Council welcomed new members; Jim Barlow, Cassie Castleberry, Helen Davis and Matt Jackson.

CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES OF June 14, 2007    

No changes were recommended.  Minutes stand as presented.

CHAIR REPORT

No Report given. 

UPDATE ON OFFICE ON AGING

Margaret Long announced that Karen Wagner resigned her county commissioner position on Monday, July 9^th.  At this time, we do not know who the replacement will be.  Margaret stated that Karen worked very hard on transit issues. A letter of thanks to Karen was distributed for council members to sign.

 

Margaret reported that the Office on Aging is currently working on the reprinting of the Answers on Aging Resource Guide.  Margaret stated that the inventory of guides is low therefore the reprinting is earlier than usual. 

CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES OF March 8, 2007    

No changes were recommended.  Minutes stand as presented.

CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES OF May 10, 2007     

No changes were recommended.  Minutes stand as presented.

CHAIR REPORT

Earl Stevens reported that the Executive Committee discussed possible changes to the committee format.

UPDATE ON OFFICE ON AGING

Margaret Long distributed an article from the Coloradoan about Earl Stevens.  Margaret presented certificates of appreciation to Paul Bell, Karen Reinhardt, and Lloyd Spawn for their service as council members.  Margaret also presented Earl Stevens with an appreciation plaque for being the Advisory Council chair for the past year. 

 

Margaret presented the One-Year Plan for both state and federal funds for discussion and approval.  Margaret thanked Stacie Hougard for her work on the budget and Tina Hugo for inputting units of service.  Margaret reported that the Office on Aging completed the Request for Proposal process and has now incorporated those figures into the one-year plan.  Margaret explained that there will not be any changes in how the Office on Aging conducts business.  Due to the additional state funds, the Office on Aging will be able to continue funding contracts at the same level as last year, with a few exceptions.  The Wellington Senior Center’s funding will increase from $7,300 to $11,000.  This increase is due to the rising gas prices and the expansion of their transportation service.  The Family Caregiver Support Program will have some changes due to the Colorado Trust grant.  With the funding from the grant, the Office on Aging will be able to expand respite care and material aid grants.  Margaret is steadfast in keeping the current level of staffing for the Office on Aging.  In order to do this the Office on Aging will need to use more federal funds.  If there is no increase in state funding there will not be enough money to fund the B services at current levels.  levels as internal costs are forecasted to go up, particularly the cost for employee health benefits.Therefore, the council must continue their efforts and be diligent in advocating for increased funding. 

 

Roger Bailey questioned the administrative budget; where does the money come from to pay salaries?  Margaret replied that there is $80,000 in the Federal Title III funds for Administration.   Some of these funds are reserved for program development.  In addition, some funds come out of the Caregiver and Ombudsman programs to pay for Margaret and Tina’s salaries.  Margaret went on to explain that there is also money for administration in the state funds. The ombudsmen, family care giver support program and outreach programs are funded out of Federal Title III B. Margaret stated that the County money is used for match.  Margaret reported that the county also funds two programs strictly out of county general fund dollars, $10,000 for four rural senior centers, and $20,000 for the Senior Tax Work-off Program. 

 

Karen Reinhardt asked if the Office on Aging has plans to pursue additional grants.  Margaret replied that yes, the office does plan to continue to look for grants, but must be very careful to not compete with our community partners.  Margaret stated that the Colorado Trust grant was perfect because the Office on Aging is basically the fiscal agent. Allowing our partners to expand their efforts in providing support to family caregivers and our office the opportunity to maintain and even increase our support with respite care vouchers and material aide.

 

Karen Reinhardt moved that the council accept the financial forms for both the Federal and state funds, Paul Bell seconded motion.  Motion was passed. 

COUNCIL MEMBER BIOGRAPHY:

Karen ReinhardtTina Barker, Office on Aging Ombudsman gave a brief autobiography.

 

SENIOR ADVISORY REPORTS

Fort Collins Senior Advisory Board Report

Marjorie McTaggart reported that the board did an outreach meeting at The Winslow in June.  There were 28 people in attendance.  The board learned that several people did not know that the board existed.  Marjorie stated that the board decided to contact the Coloradoan with a suggestion to write informative articles regarding this board and other boards such as the Women’s Commission.

 

Loveland Senior Advisory Board

Earl Stevens reported that the board discussed the Bridging the Gap Networking Luncheon.  Earl reported that there is a committee working on the conference in October entitled, “Solutions to Senior Care:  What You Need to Know”.  The committee expects 150-200 people to attend the conference.  The conference is free and will include a continental breakfast.  Nancy Wallace will be the keynote speaker. 

 

Earl commented that the Senior Hotline greeting was reviewed. Back in 1997, the hotline received a lot of calls but more recently, the hotline receives approximately one call a month.  Therefore, the board revised the message with hopes of making it more welcoming.

 

Earl reported that he wrote an article in the 50+ Marketplace about transportation and the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA).

 

Foundation on Aging

Mary Shultz reported that the foundation is continuing to explore options for partnership with the Office on Aging.

 

Larimer County Commissioner

No report given.

 

Human Relations Commission: 

Elaine Boni reported that the commission had a retreat last Saturday and hammered out a new mission statement.

 

Commission on Aging: 

No report given.

COMMITTEE & STAFF REPORTS

There are no committee reports.  The committee structure is being revamped.

Staff Reports

Tina Barker reminded the council that the Ombudsman program is still administering the Centenarian Program sponsored by the Commission on Aging.  This program is set up to honor people turning 100.  There is a certificate signed by the governor and usually a commissioner presents the certificate with council members to the centenarian.  Tina asked the council members to contact her if they learn of people in the community turning 100.  Tina can be reached at 498-6803. 

 

Tina announced that Hillside Assisted Living is a new assisted living residence located in the Country Club area.  The owners of the facility purchased the home earlier this year from Albert Yates, former president of CSU.  They are currently open and hope to be licensed later this year.  Park Regency Assisted Living in Loveland will be opening in mid-August and with 100 new beds.

 

Lynette McGowan gave a brief background on the Colorado Trust grant.  Colorado Trust awarded 20 organizations a grant for their Healthy Aging Initiative.  These organizations will be funded for four years.  The Larimer County Caregiver Coalition Partnership received one of the grants.  The Coalition consists of Volunteers of America, CSU Center on Aging, Elderhaus, and Spiritual Health Partnership.  The Office on Aging is the fiscal agent and will receive a small portion of the grant money.   

 

Laura Sutherlin reported that she is currently working on the Answers on Aging Resource Guide update.  Laura also noted that she had been contacted by a Gladys VanDyke from DMA plaza.  Gladys is working with the National Park Service collecting stories and information regarding “Rosie the Riveter” programs during World War II.  The National Park Service is collecting items and stories to be placed in a museum.

 

COMMITTEE SIGN-UP

Steve Budner passed around a sign up sheet for the four new committees.  He asked the council members to sign-up for at least one committee, but noted that members can sign-up for more than one if desired.  Steve explained that the committees will meet once a month for approximately one hour. 

 

Steve stated that since there are currently scheduled times for committees, those times will stand for the purpose of nominating a chair, and to discuss roles, goals and meeting times that work with everyone’s schedule.  The tentative schedule is as follows:

 

July 20^th:

8:00 – 9:00 Public Policy

9:15 – 10:15 “Executive” (placeholder only, will not meet until after the chairs are nominated)

10:30 – 11:30 Media and Public Relations

August 3^rd:

8:00 – 9:00 Community Outreach & Education

9:15 – 10:15 Planning, Funding & Partnership Development

 

All meetings will take place at the Fort Collins Senior Center located at 1200 Raintree Drive in the Conference Room. 

 

Margaret Long announced that the Office on Aging can reimburse gas for members at a rate of 48.5 cents per mile, if travel is more than 10 miles one way to get to any meeting.  Please contact Tina Hugo at 498-6809 if you are interested in the reimbursement. 

 

PROPOSED BYLAW CHANGES

Margaret announced that changes to the bylaws must be reviewed by the council members 25 days before a formal vote can take place.  Margaret distributed the new proposed Bylaws.  Margaret detailed the changes as follows: 

●   Changed chairperson to chair.

●   Outline of the function of the executive committee includes the elimination of the nomination and membership committee.  The Executive committee now does more board development.   

 

Margaret stated that the vote to accept the new bylaws will take place during the August meeting.  After the vote, the bylaws will go to the commissioners for approval.  Margaret asked the council to forward any questions to Katy prior to the August meeting.

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Mary Shultz clarified that the Lions Club eyeglass program cannot reuse eyeglasses in the United States.  The recycled eyeglasses go to Mexico and South America.  They are examined and reground.  Larimer County Lions Club sent approximately 15,000 glasses to Mexico last year.  Mary stated that the Lion’s Club does provide new glasses to people in the United States. 

 

Earl Stevens announced that he found an article in Consumer Reports stating that Coke settled a lawsuit in which they will modify their products to exclude benzoate.   Pepsi will continue to use sodium, or benzoate (citric acid).  The combination has been known to turn into benzene. 

 

ADJOURNMENT

Elnora adjourned the meeting at 2:54 p.m.

ELECTIONS

Earl Stevens distributed the nomination ballot to the council members.  The ballot listed Elnora McCloughan for Chair, Nancy Arthur as Vice Chair.  Nancy Arthur declined to automatically be nominated for the Chair position next year.  Katy Mason collected and counted the ballots.  By unanimous vote, Elnora was elected Chair and Nancy was elected Vice Chair.

DISCUSSION/FINAL WRAP-UP OF COMMITTEE STRUCTURE

Janet Montera distributed a copy of the new committee structure that was recommended for the Office on Aging Advisory Council.  Janet opened discussion with the council.  Marcy Greenslit, Steve Budner, Roger Bailey and Katy Mason described the structure in detail. 

 

Stan Ulrich moved to vote on adopting the new committee structure and title changes.  Marcy Greenslit seconded and the motion was passed.  The new committees and titles are as follows:

 

          #1:  Public Policy and Advocacy Committee

          #2:  Community Outreach and Education Committee

          #3:  Planning, Funding and Partnership Development Committee

          #4:  Media and Public Relations Committee

 

Katy explained that the next step in this process is for council members to sign-up for the committees.  Sign up sheets for members, including the new members, will be available at the July meeting.  Each of the new committees will then establish a time to meet, and then discuss the goals, functions and activities of their new committee. 

 

Stan Ulrich moved to vote that during the July meeting, members will sign up, and select a meeting date to discuss goals, functions and activities.  Karen Reinhardt seconded the motion.   The vote was unanimous.

 

Margaret Long noted that she will begin the process of changing the bylaws. 

 

ADJOURNMENT

Earl adjourned the meeting at 3:29 p.m.